Vitamin B1 deficiency, which can lead to a disorder characterised by amnesia, apathy and disorientation

Ulcers

Gastritis (inflammation of stomach walls)

Malnutrition

Cancer of the mouth and throat

“My addiction built steadily and, before I realised it, I had become a morning as well as an afternoon drinker.

“I decided to stop drinking. I lay awake most of that night, and by noon the next day every bone in my body ached. In a blind panic, I nervously poured a glass full of gin, my hands shaking so violently that I spilled half the bottle. As I gulped it down, I could feel the agony gradually lessening. Then I finally knew the terrible truth: I was hooked. I couldn’t quit.”—Faye